The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) against ionizing radiation (IR) reduces the occupational doses and the stochastic risks, but at the same time, it can negatively affect the health of medical staff, for example, the musculoskeletal system (1,2).The aim of this study is to assess the completeness and effectiveness of using PPE and the health status of medical personnel.

The data were obtained using an anonymous survey conducted among medical personnel working with IR in medical institutions of the Donetsk region, from January 5th to April 5th, 2020. The questionnaire consisted of three blocks: socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age, profession ), occupational factors (sources of IR and PPE), health status (presence of chronic diseases ). The data were processed using frequency analysis methods in Microsoft Excel 2007.

The data of 765 questionnaires were analyzed, among the respondents, there were 685 women (89.5%) and 80 men (10.5%). The groups of respondents is represented in four groups: 19-29 years - 45 (5.9%), 30-39 years- 132 (17.3%), 40-49 years - 237 (30.9%) and the 50-71 years- 351 (45.9%)[Fig 1]. The largest number of specialists was in the groups of X-ray technicians 337 (44.1%) and radiologists 145 (19.0%). The most used modalities are conventional X-ray 453 (59.2%) and photofluorograph 183 (23,9%). These data in which the...

The results show that the use of PPE by medical personnel during procedures can be increased. The lack of eye protection can lead to eye diseases increase, and the use of PPE can negatively affect the musculoskeletal system.

1. Klein LW, Miller DL, Balter S, Laskey W, Haines D, Norbash A, Mauro MA, Goldstein JA. Occupational health hazards in the interventional laboratory: time for a safer environment. Radiology. 2009;250(2):538-44 2. Le Heron J, Padovani R, Smith I, Czarwinski R. Radiation protection of medical staff. Eur J Radiol. 2010;76(1):20-3

V. A. Bondarevskyi-Kolotii: Nothing to disclose